The Bookshop of Yesterdays

Jonathan Kent's spectacular production of Purcell's huge semi-opera is joyous, imaginative and witty Glyndebourne, with its intimate auditorium, provides the perfect setting for a drama which is partly spoken and partly sung. Based on an adaptation of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the story is lavished with a brilliance that justifies this production's acclaim. Paul Brown's inventive designs, Kim Brandstrup's exquisite choreography, an excellent cast of actors and singers and outstanding playing by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under William Christie combine to make a seamless theatrical experience, here recorded in High Definition and true surround sound.

The Book of Knots' self-titled metal opus is a concept album about the sea. But don't expect any prog rock opera cheese. Book of Knots is a noisy, bludgeoning rock record, full of feedback, improvisation and bitter currents – like Mike Watt's Contemplating the Engine Room played by Queens of the Stone Age. The tumultuous record ranges from the oddly Björk-ish "Tugboat" to the psych, hesher rock of "Crumble" and Jon Langford's downright catchy piece of slithering melancholia "Back on Dry Land"." It's a demented and expansive narrative that takes at least multiple listens to make sense of, but the cinematic scope is apparent from the beginning. While Book of Knots is a bit too difficult for everyone, those who enjoy digging deeper into the layers of an epic rock album will be more than satisfied.

The Book Of Knots has had the pleasure of collaborating with some of the worlds most talented musicians, including Tom Waits, Mike Patton, David Thomas, Blixa Bargeld, Jon Langford, and Carla Bozulich. Founding members Matthias Bossi (Skeleton Key, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum), Joel Hamilton (producer/engineer for BlakRoc, Pretty Lights), Carla Kihlstedt (Tin Hat Trio, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum) and Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Frank Black, Bob Mould) forge a sound both epic and intimate, empowering and devastating. Cinematic, symphonic landscapes give way to crumbling acoustic chamber ballads. Broken guitars and beautifully warped orchestras describe the ungraceful demise of boats, blast furnaces and bloated industries. Accounts of the failed adventures of tragic would-be heroes are given voice in the band's two previous critically-acclaimed releases. Their newest album serves as the final chapter in the bands "By Sea, By Land, By Air" trilogy.

All these works were published within 18 months of Purcell's death. The 13 suites of choice movements from plays and semi-operas, entitled A Collection of Ayres, compos'd for theTheatre, and upon other occasions, may well have been the editing work of Purcell's brother, Daniel.

The GRAMMY award-winning sextet, Earls of Leicester, have returned with a triumphant live album. Taped over two nights at Nashville's historic Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the robust 23-song set, features 14 new recordings, and fan favorites from their two previous studio albums. The all-star outfit of Jerry Douglas, Shawn Camp, Barry Bales, Johnny Warren, Charlie Cushman, and Jeff White bring the Foggy Mountain Boys to life, capturing a night of pure Flatt & Scruggs magic.